Apparatus and method for priming an engine oil pump

ABSTRACT

An apparatus and method for use on an automotive engine for isolating the oil pump from the rest of the engine&#39;&#39;s lubricating system and applying a suction to the oil pump for printing thereof.

United States Patent 91 Allen et al.

May 6,1975

[ APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PRIMING AN ENGINE OIL PUMP [75] Inventors: Marshall T. Allen; Darrell E. Norris,

both of Glendale, Ariz.

[73] Assignee: Marshall T. Allen, Glendale, Ariz.

[22] Filed: Feb. 22, 1974 [21] Appl. No.: 445,317

[52] US. Cl 123/196 S; 123/198 C; 184/64 [51] Int. Cl. F01m 11/10 [58] Field of Search 123/196 S, 198 C; 184/64,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,838,039 6/1958 Smith et a1. 123/196 S 14/1? P25852126 SOUECE 6/1971 Raichel 123/196 S 10/1973 John 123/1965 Primary Examiner-Manuel A. Antonakas Assistant Examiner-William C. Anderson Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Herbert E. Haynes, Jr.

[5 7] ABSTRACT An apparatus and method for use on an automotive engine for isolating the oil pump from the rest of the engines lubricating system-and applying a suction to the oil pump for printing thereof.

7 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures PATENTEUHAY ems 3,881,460

PEES'SUEE S'OUECE APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PRIIVIING AN ENGINE OIL PUMP BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to tooling for use on an automotive engine and more particularly to a method and apparatus for priming an engine oil pump.

2. Description of the Prior Art For purposes of this description, the oiling system of an automotive engine will be divided into two basic portions with the first portion being the oil pump assembly. The second portion will hereinafter be referred to as the lubricated parts or lubrication system which includes those portions of the engine which normally receive oil from the oil pump such as rod bearings, cam bearings and the like.

When an automotive engine is being first built or is being reassembled after having been repaired or overhauled, the oil pump should be full for priming purposes. However, the danger always exists that the oil pump will not function due to loss of prime resulting from entrapped air, inadequate filling, and the like.

As is customary in the art, after an engine has been assembled, it is initially run for test purposes and it is not known until this time whether or not the oil pump is primed. It is well known that serious damage to the engine can occur if the oil pump does not supply oil to the engines lubrication system quickly. Thus, when this type of oil pump malfuction is detected during the initial test run, the engine is quickly shut down and the engine must then be disassembled so that the pump can be reached for priming. Even then, it will not be known whether the second attempt to prime the pump was successful until the next test running of the engine.

Hence, it may be seen that a need exists for a method and apparatus for insuring that the oil pump of an automotive engine is primed to eliminate damage thereof and for remotely priming the pump to eliminate costly and time consuming disassembly and reassembly.

So far as is known to me, no apparatus or method existed heretofore for insuring that the oil pump of an automotive engine is primed and for remotely priming the pump in the event of loss of prime.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the present invention, an apparatus and method is disclosed for insuring that the oil pump of an automotive engine is primed and for remotely priming the pump in the event of loss of prime. The apparatus and method of the instant invention are intended primarily for use on engines having what is sometimes referred to as a spin-on oil filter of the type well known in the art.

To check and/or remotely prime the oil pump of an engine in accordance with the present invention, the oil filter mounting pad of the engine must be exposed so that an adapter means, forming part of the apparatus of the instant invention, can be installed thereon in place of the usual oil filter. The oil chamber of the mounting pad to which oil is supplied from the oil pump is sealed by the adapter means which also blocks the oil outlet passage leading from the mounting pad to the engines lubricated system. Thus, the oil passage leading from the oil pump is the only passage that remains in communication with the oil chamber of the mounting pad. A suction means is coupled to the adapter means so as to be in communication with the oil chamber, and the suction thus present within the oil chamber will be applied to the oil pump by means of the passage leading from the oil pump to the oil chamber.

By applying a suction to the oil pump as described above, oil will be caused to move from the engines oil sump, through the oil pump, into the oil chamber and out through the suction means. The suction and movement of oil will draw out any entrapped air within the oil pump and passage. If a steady spray of oil is expelled from the suction means, it will be known that the pump is primed. However, if the oil being expelled produces a sputtering or intermittent spray, then it is known that air is being simultaneously expelled, and the suction must be continuously applied until the sputtering stops.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and useful apparatus and method for checking the oil pump of an automotive engine to see if that pump is primed.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and useful apparatus and method for testing the oil pump of an engine to insure that the pump is primed prior to running of the engine.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and useful apparatus and method for remotely priming the oil pump of an automotive engine.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and useful apparatus and method for use on automotive engines of the type which have a spin'on type oil filter for checking and/or remotely priming the oil pump thereof.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new and useful apparatus and method for use on automotive engines which isolates the oil pump from the engines lubricated system and applies a suction means to the pump for priming purposes.

The foregoing and other objects of the present invention, as well as the invention itself, may be more fully understood from the following description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a fragmentary front elevation of an automotive engine having the apparatus of the present invention installed on the oil filter mounting pad of the engine.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 22 of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring more particularly to the drawings wherein there is illustrated a fragmentary portion of an engine 10 of the type having a filter mounting pad 1 1. The pad 11, during normal usage of the engine, has an oil filter (not shown) mounted thereon of the type sometimes referred to as a spin-on filter.

The pad 11 illustrated in the drawings is typical of this type of pad; however, it should be noted that these pads will vary somewhat from one engine to another as determined by the manufacturer, and it is not intended that the apparatus and method of the present invention be limited to usage on a specific type of filter mounting pad. As will become apparent as this description progresses, the apparatus and method of the present invention may be used on all filter mounting pads of this type currently being manufactured.

The filter mounting pad 1 1 is provided with a circular lip 12 which circumscribes an oil containing chamber 13 formed therein.

A hollow externally threaded stud 14 is mounted in the center of the pad 11 and extends outwardly from the chamber 13 a distance somewhat beyond the lip 12. Oil is supplied directly from the oil pump 19, shown schematically in FIG. 2, through an oil inlet passage 15 into the chamber 13.

During normal engine usage the oil supplied to the chamber 13 will be forced under pressure into the oil filter element (not shown) and will emerge from the center of the element through the stud 14 to the engines oil galley passage 16, which directs the oil to the engines lubricated system (not shown).

Some engines being manufactured today are provided with a filter by-pass valve 17 mounted within a passage 18 which leads from the oil chamber 13 to the galley pasage 16. This valve 17 in normal operation, will open when the oil pressure exceeds a predeter mined setting of the valve and thus oil will be supplied to the engines lubricated system even though the filtering element may become clogged.

The apparatus of the present invention includes an adapter means 20, mounting nut 22 and suction means 24 which operates, as will hereinafter be described in detail, to check and/or prime the oil pump 19 of the engine 10.

The adapter means includes a plate 26 having a centrally located aperture 27 formed therethrough. The plate 26 is fabricated so that it can be mounted on the pad 11 with one of its faces 28 in juxtaposed relationship with the lip 12 and so that the stud 14 will extend into the aperture 27. A sealing gasket 30 is suitably secured to the face 28 of the plate 26 and is preferrably made to substantially cover that face so that an effective seal may be made on each type of the various kinds of mounting pads 11, the diameter of the lip 12 being one thing that varies from pad to pad.

The plate 26 is provided with a passage 32 formed therein which communicates between the face 28 thereof and an internally threaded bore 33 in which a conventional fitting 34 is mounted. The bore 33 is shown as being located on the periphery of the plate 26, but could just as easily be positioned on the face 35 of the plate. In either event, it will be seen that the passage 32 communicates between the oil chamber 13 and the exterior or exposed surface of the plate.

As seen best in FIG. 2, the mounting nut 22 is used to removably secure the plate 26 in sealing engagement with the lip 12 of the pad 11. The nut 22 has a head portion 36 preferrably of cylindrical shape and has a pair of diametrically opposed radially extending pins 37 welded or otherwise secured thereto by which the nut may be gripped for tightening purposes.

It should be obvious that any of several well known head configurations could be employed which would provide means by which the nut 22 could be gripped for axial rotation. For example, the head 36 could be hexagonal (not shown) so that the nut could be turned more easily by hand or with a suitable wrench.

The nut 22 is provided with at least one internally threaded boss 38 coaxially extending from the head 36, and which is of reduced diameter to form a shoulder 39 radially extending between the periphery of the boss 38 and the periphery of the head 36.

The circumference of the boss 38 and its internal threads are selected so that the boss may be inserted into the aperture 27 of the plate 26 and threadingly engage the stud 14 of the mounting pad 11. As the nut is tightened down on the stud 14, the shoulder 39 will contact the face 35 of the plate 26 and move the plate into sealing engagement with the lip 12 of the pad 11.

The shoulder 39 may be provided with an O-ring type of sealing gasket 40 mounted thereon in any suitable manner so as to form a seal between the face 35 of the plate 26 and the shoulder 39 of the nut 22.

As hereinbefore mentioned, the various types of filter mounting pads differ somewhat as to the details of construction. One of these differing details is the thread size of the stud 14. Therefore, so as to accommodate the various types of pads 11, the nut 22 may be provided with a second boss 42. This second boss 42 coaxially extends from the opposite side of the head 36 and is formed in the same manner as the previously described boss 38 so as to form a shoulder 43 on which a gasket 44 may be mounted. The only difference between the bosses 38 and 42 of the nut 22 is the size of their respective internal threads, thus, the nut 22 is reversible to accommodate the various studs currently being used.

It should now be apparent that with the plate 26 mounded on the pad 11 as shown and described, the oil chamber 13 is sealed and is isolated from the engines lubricated system. The oil inlet line 15 from the oil pump 19 communicates with the chamber 13 as does the passage 32 formed through the plate 26.

The suction means 24 is connected, such as by means of a flexible hose 46 having suitable fittings 47, to the fitting 34 mounted in the plate 26. The suction means 24 includes an air gun 48 of the conventional type having a shutoff valve 49 which is operated by a lever 50 in the well known manner. Air under pressure is supplied to the gun 48 from a convenient source 55, shown schematically in FIG. 1, through a hose 51 to the valve 49. Air passing through the valve 49, upon actuation thereof, will enter the bore 52 of the outlet barrel 53. A nozzle 54 is suitably mounted on the end of the barrel 53 and is provided with an orifice 56 formed therein adjacent the outlet of the barrel. The orifice 56 is of reduced diameter in relationship to the bore 52 of the barrel so that air under pressure moving down the barrel will increase in velocity when it passes through the orifice. Thus, in accordance with Bernollis principle, a low pressure in relationship to atmospheric pressure will exist immediately downstream of the orifice 56 within the chamber 57. A fitting 58 is provided on the nozzle 54 to which the flexible hose 46 from the adapter means 20 is coupled. The fitting 58 is positioned on the nozzle 54 so that a passage 60, formed through the fitting, opens into the low pressure chamber 57.

It may now be seen that the low pressure created within the air gun 48 will be coupled to the sealed oil chamber 13 within the mounting pad 11 and will cause oil to move from the oil sump 62, shown schematically in FIG. 2, of the engine through the oil pump 19 and through the oil inlet passage 15 into the chamber 13. From the chamber 13, the oil will pass through the flexible hose 46 into the low pressure chamber 57 of the air gun 48 and will be expelled therefrom by the high velocity air moving through the gun. This movement of oil will purge any air which may have been entrapped within the oil pump and thus insuring that the pump is primed.

It should be noted that the air gun 48 is but one means for applying a suction as previously described, for the same results could be achieved with an electrically operated pump, a hand operated evacuation pump and the like.

Also, it should be noted that the filter by-pass valve 17 supplied with some of the automotive engines currently being manufactured will not interfere with the operation of the apparatus of the present invention. As previously mentioned, the by-pass valve 17 is calibrated to open at a predetermined pressure and this opening pressure is considerably higher than the low pressure applied by the suction means 24 during the priming operation. Thus, the relatively low pressure within the oil chamber 13 will tend to hold the by-pass valve 17 closed.

The method of the present invention may be understood upon consideration of the steps of the method now to be described in detail.

The first step of the method of the present invention is exposing of the engines oil filter mounting pad 11 to reveal the oil inlet passage from the oil pump 19, to reveal the oil outlet passage in the hollow stud l4, and to reveal the oil chamber 13 formed within the mounting pad. ln instances where the engine is being repaired, it may be necessary to remove the spin-on oil filter element (not shown) to expose the pad 11. In the instance of a new engine it may be necessary to remove a plug (not shown) or other masking device, which is normally employed during painting, machining, assembly, and the like to prevent contamination of the pad and oil passages,

The next step of the instant method is covering of the filter mounting pad to seal the oil chamber 13 formed within the mounting pad 11 by installing the adapter means thereon, as previously described, to form a sealed chamber which is in communication with the oil inlet passage 15 from the oil pump 19 and which is isolated from the oil outlet passage through the hollow stud 14 leading to the lubricated parts of the engine.

The last step of the method of the present invention comprises applying a suction with the suction means 24 to the sealed chamber 13 to move oil from the sump 62 of the engine through the oil pump 19, through the oil inlet passage 15 into the sealed chamber 13 from which the oil is expelled by the suction means.

While the principles of the invention have now been made clear in an illustrated embodiment, there will be immediately obvious to those skilled in the art, many modifications of structure, arrangements, proportions, the elements, materials, and components used in the practice of the invention, and otherwise, which are particularly adapted for specific environments and operation requirements without departing from those principles. The appended claims are therefore intended to cover and embrace any such modifications within the limits only of the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What we claim is:

l. A method for remotely priming an oil pump in an engine comprising the steps of:

a. exposing the oil filter mounting pad of the engine to reveal the oil inlet passage from the oil pump, the oil outlet passage to the engines lubricated parts and the oil chamber formed within said mounting pad;

b. convering the oil chamber of said mounting pad for sealing that chamber and the oil inlet passage communicating therewith against leakage and for isolating the oil outlet passage therefrom; and

c. applying a suction to said sealed oil chamber to cause oil to move from the oil sump of the engine through the oil pump, through the oil inlet passage and through the oil chamber so that any entrapped air will be purged therefrom.

2. An apparatus for remotely priming the oil pump of an engine comprising:

a. an engine having an oil filter mounting pad in which an oil chamber is formed, the oil chamber having an oil inlet passage leading thereto from the engines oil pump and having a hollow stud protruding therefrom through which an oil outlet passage leads to the engines lubricated parts;

b. adapter means demountably attached to the oil filter mounting pad of said engine for sealing the oil chamber and the oil inlet passage against leakage and isolating the oil outlet passage therefrom; and

c. suction means coupled to said adapter means and in communication with the sealed oil chamber of the filter mounting pad of said engine for causing oil to move from the engines oil sump through the oil pump, oil inlet line and into the sealed oil chamber for expulsion through said suction means.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein said adapter means comprises:

a. a plate having an aperture formed therethrough for receiving the stud of the filter mounting pad of said engine, said plate having a passage formed therethrough to which said suction means is coupled;

b. gasket mens affixed to one surface of said plate for forming a seal between said plate and the filter mounting pad of said engine; and

c. a mounting nut within the aperture formed in said plate and in threaded engagement with the stud of the filter mounting pad of said engine, said mounting nut adapted to sealingly demountably attach said plate to the filter mounting pad of said engine.

4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein said mounting nut comprises:

a. a head having means thereon by which said head may be gripped for axial rotation; and

b. at least one internally threaded boss integral with said head and axially extending therefrom, said boss having a circumference which is smaller than the peripheral dimension of said head to form a radially extending shoulder between the periphery of said boss and the periphery of said head.

5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein said suction means is an air gun having means thereon for creating a low pressure with respect to atmospheric pressure and coupling that low pressure to said adapter means for transmission therethrough into the oil chamber of the filter mounting pad of said engine.

6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein said suction means comprises:

a. a source of air under pressure;

b. an air gun having a barrel thereon, the barrel having a bore formed therethrough, said gun coupled to receive air under pressure from said source and direct that air through the bore of the barrel;

0. a nozzle mounted on the barrel of said air gun and having an orifice formed therein which is coaxial with the bore of the barrel, the orifice having a smaller diameter than the bore of the barrel, said plate having an aperture formed therethrough for renozzle having a low pressure Chamber downstrea ceiving the stud of the engines mounting pad, a mountof the orifice; and ing nut positionable Within the aperture of said plate (1. means on said nozzle and in communication with and threadably engagable with the stud of the enginevs the low Pressure chamber thefeof for coupling e mounting pad for sealingly demountably attaching said low pressure chamber of s.a1d nozzle plate to the engines mounting pad and for blocking the chamber of the filter mounting P of l engme' hollow stud of the engines mounting pad, and suction 7. An apparatus for remotely priming the Oll pump of means coonnected to said plate and 1n communication an engine of the type having an oil filter mounting pad in which an oil chamber is formed for receiving oil from 10 wlth the 9' chamber of the englne S mfmmmg pad for causing oil to move from the englnes Oll sump, through the engines oil pump and from which oil is supplied to t the engines lubricated parts through -an externally the engine 5 Pump, the 011 Chamber of the threaded hollow stud protruding from the oil chamber gines mounting P for expulsion through Said Suction of the mounting pad, said apparatus comprising a plate means. engagable with the mounting pad of the engine, said 

1. A method for remotely priming an oil pump in an engine comprising the steps of: a. exposing the oil filter mounting pad of the engine to reveal the oil inlet passage from the oil pump, the oil outlet passage to the engine''s lubricated parts and the oil chamber formed within said mounting pad; b. convering the oil chamber of said mounting pad for sealing that chamber and the oil inlet passage communicating therewith against leakage and for isolating the oil outlet passage therefrom; and c. applying a suction to said sealed oil chamber to cause oil to move from the oil sump of the engine through the oil pump, through the oil inlet passage and through the oil chamber so that any entrapped air will be purged therefrom.
 2. An apparatus for remotely priming the oil pump of an engine comprising: a. an engine having an oil filter mounting pad in which an oil chamber is formed, the oil chamber having an oil inlet passage leading thereto from the engine''s oil pump and having a hollow stud protruding therefrom through which an oil outlet passage leads to the engine''s lubricated parts; b. adapter means demountably attached to the oil filter mounting pad of said engine for sealing the oil chamber and the oil inlet passage against leakage and isolating the oil outlet passage therefrom; and c. suction means coupled to said adapter means and in communication with the sealed oil chamber of the filter mounting pad of said engine for causing oil to move from the engine''s oil sump through the oil pump, oil inlet line and into the sealed oil chamber for expulsion through said suction means.
 3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein said adapter means comprises: a. a plate having an aperture formed therethrough for receiving the stud of the filter mounting pad of said engine, said plate having a passage formed therethrough to which said suction means is coupled; b. gasket mens affixed to one surface of said plate for forming a seal between said plate and the filter mounting pad of said engine; and c. a mounting nut within the aperture formed in said plate and in threaded engagement with the stud of the filter mounting pad of said engine, said mounting nut adapted to sealingly demountably attach said plate to the filter mounting pad of said engine.
 4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein said mounting nut comprises: a. a head having means thereon by which said head may be gripped for axial rotation; and b. at least one internally threaded boss integral with said head and axially extending therefrom, said boss having a circumference which is smaller than the peripheral dimension of said head to form a radially extending shoulder between the periphery of said boss and the periphery of said head.
 5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein said suction Means is an air gun having means thereon for creating a low pressure with respect to atmospheric pressure and coupling that low pressure to said adapter means for transmission therethrough into the oil chamber of the filter mounting pad of said engine.
 6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein said suction means comprises: a. a source of air under pressure; b. an air gun having a barrel thereon, the barrel having a bore formed therethrough, said gun coupled to receive air under pressure from said source and direct that air through the bore of the barrel; c. a nozzle mounted on the barrel of said air gun and having an orifice formed therein which is coaxial with the bore of the barrel, the orifice having a smaller diameter than the bore of the barrel, said nozzle having a low pressure chamber downstream of the orifice; and d. means on said nozzle and in communication with the low pressure chamber thereof for coupling the low pressure chamber of said nozzle to the oil chamber of the filter mounting pad of said engine.
 7. An apparatus for remotely priming the oil pump of an engine of the type having an oil filter mounting pad in which an oil chamber is formed for receiving oil from the engine''s oil pump and from which oil is supplied to the engine''s lubricated parts through an externally threaded hollow stud protruding from the oil chamber of the mounting pad, said apparatus comprising a plate engagable with the mounting pad of the engine, said plate having an aperture formed therethrough for receiving the stud of the engine''s mounting pad, a mounting nut positionable within the aperture of said plate and threadably engagable with the stud of the engine''s mounting pad for sealingly demountably attaching said plate to the engine''s mounting pad and for blocking the hollow stud of the engine''s mounting pad, and suction means coonnected to said plate and in communication with the oil chamber of the engine''s mounting pad for causing oil to move from the engine''s oil sump, through the engine''s oil pump, into the oil chamber of the engine''s mounting pad for expulsion through said suction means. 